Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-04-21

You see, dear. nIinIicking his mothers
tone, turning to his cousin, " the
children are up TO ali kinds of games
and mother is as much a child as any
of u.s."
Mrs. Chester laughed and Eva en-
joyed their Jokes immensely. just
then the letters were brought in. There
were only two, one for viii and one
tor Eva. Will looked dismayed atthe
contents OF his, but frightened up al
most Immediately,
"Own up now; which of you wrote
this letter."
Each one solemnly asserted that
they had neither written it orcaused
it t. be written.
"What is it, DEAR" asked his moth
err, a~nxiously.
"Nothing, only one of our Iarks
must have got out. The faculty want
my presence Immediately at tie col.
lege to answer certain charges, etc. i
was sure it was an April fool"
"Oh, vii" exclaimed his mother.
Serves him right" said Belle.
"College boys e no better than cubs.
THANK you, sissy" said Will,
making a low bow. "Halloo, what is
thIs?" gathering up his textbooks and
findings fifty-dollar bill in his Greek.
dispose father sent it, motherg
ASK me tomorrow" answered his
mother, trying to be merry, but wor,
ried at her sons difficulty in college.
Did you put it there, Eya?"
ask me tomorrow" she answered
exactly rs his mother had done.
Belle thrust her hand iIito her peck
ct and drew orth a elegant bracelet
yes, two OF them-and she gave a
cry OF pleasure. "Oh, who could have
put it there?"
"Allison Foster" suggested Will
but he did not believe it.
"Pshaw! you know better" said
Belle; but she was pleased with the
suggestion.
"Well, then, / guess Eva Atwood"
"That is even more ridiculous, said
she scornfully.
"Then you have found me out.
Spare my bushes, my dear sister. ]
earned the money nights. l burned
the midnight oil that you might shine
in the assemblies which your beauty
is well fitted to adorn. Don't thank
me your pleasure is enough" said
Will, waving his hand dramatically.
II won't. never fear" said Belle,
| shortly. you couldn't keep money
in your pocket long enough to buy
them. Father must have sent them
when he did your fifty dollars"
But when Annie found on her table
a splendid encyclopedia, she went
| straight to Elva and Rugged her en-
Enthusiastically. 81 know it's you, and
1 thank you a thousand times" Mrs,
Chester received a silver service, and
Isabel a splendid wax doll. with a
Partisan wardrobe. "And there itlaid,
the darling! Right ip Black Dinah's
cradle, Just as natural as mamma
cried Isabel, dancing about excitedly,
Black Dinah was the sole survivor o
a large family OF dolls and this new ar
rival was therefore enthusiastically
welcomed.
Although it is true they all thought
of Eva as the possible doner, all but
Annie thought it was likely to have
been Mr.. Chester, who was a CONNER
cial traveller, and often sent home
valuable presents. But who in this
case had distributed them so cunning
ly?
The next day solved the mystery,
Meanwhile Will packed up his book.
and sachel, and started off.
Never mind" said he affectionate
ly, patting his mothers face. "Mayb,
I'll get of with only a reprimand."
But next morning his grinning face
was seen at the breakfast table AND
the family discovered the whole thin.
to have been a hoax. Hehad writer
the letter himself and fooled then
most cleverly.
\ This was the most successful fare,
aver acted in the Chester family. onAl
Fools Day. $50
"But it was cruel WILL" said hi:
mother, frowning and smiling.
81 know it.. Ialmost relented a doz
en- times" said he, kissing her.
But Eva, quiet little Eva, had reaC
and digested her letter long ere this
1t never occurred to her that it was &
hoax, for she could not conceive OF any
one unkind enough to do such thing
Still she was not deceived. She die
not believe Allison Foster loved her
although he told her so in this letter
mo, he does not love me, although
he thinks he does; if he did" and 8
blush covered her face and q tender
look stole into her sweet eyes. mo
he does not. ] feel something lackin!
in the letter. | will not wear the gera
MUM leaf, but / will tell him why.
will write to him-that will be best
g. ,haA NJ. E~cr oolAl ~.
little figure met him in the hall anC
put a letter into his hand, and ther
ran up stairs before any one saw her
Completely mystifed, his hand
closed over the note, and then be EN-
tered the sitting-room. Cora, Annie
Will, and Belle were all there, and a
once they plunged into a merry chat
but, though Allison Joined in it, hi
thoughts were with Eva, and he wish
ed she would enter.
She came IN at last, and she wor,
no geranium leaf in her hair, as tn
girls saw at a glance. Annie looked
significantly at Belle, and Cora rathe
enjoyed her friends discontinue also,
Allison saw nothing of this. for he wa,
shaking hands with Eva, holding he
banda little longer than was strict,
necessary, it seemed to Belle, while b
looked into her face with new feelin
in his own. Eva smiled and dropped
her eyes shyly.
Music, light tones, goodnight ant
Allison was in his own room, ant
tearing open the letter.
DEAR Mr.. FOSTER Gt ran)-l was. a
you fancied | should be, much surprised a
receiving your letter, particularly as yo
nave never given me any reason to thin.
you loved me. l think that Won are mis-
taken now. nave heard that peopI
sometimes deceive themselves by thinkin
they feel more kindly than they do, and i
seems as IL you must be thus mistaken il
the measure of your regard for me. ] an
quite sure, dear Mr.. Foster, that il yor
really loved me my heart would tell me 50
Ibid not wear the geranium leaf for this rea
son. Sincerely your friend, Eva ATwooD.
The swee; girls secret was plainl,
told in this letter; also her unerrin
insight, which would not let her be de
ceived.
Allison was keen and shrewd. HI
saw at a glance that some trick ha,
been played upon the unsuspectin
girl; but whom to m~istrust, unless Wi
Chester, he did not know.
The next day he happened to NEE
Eva returning from the village alone
A tide OF crimson overswept his Owl
face as well as hers.
"Miss Atwood, will you let me Sc
the letter wrote your" he asked.
Certainly" she replied, but with
surprised look.
palla kal 1,.l al
enough like Mr.. Foster to deceive Eva
but she could not thus deceive tn
young man himself. Furthermore
having received several notes from
Belle, he knew her writing immediate